Physics

The physics curriculum is designed to develop a strong foundation in classical and modern physics, which will serve as a basis for future specialization, for additional study at the graduate level, and for design and development work in industrial laboratories. The curriculum emphasizes basic physical concepts, and includes extensive work in mathematics and related areas.

Physics

The physics curriculum is designed to develop a strong foundation in classical and modern physics, which will serve as a basis for future specialization, for additional study at the graduate level, and for design and development work in industrial laboratories. The curriculum emphasizes basic physical concepts, and includes extensive work in mathematics and related areas. Laboratory facilities are available for work in optics, acoustics, X-ray diffraction, nuclear physics, and solid-state physics. Course topics included in the curriculum are Many Particle Physics, Physical Optics, Biophysics, Biomedical Optics, Theoretical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Celestial Mechanics, Acoustics, Microsensors, Semiconductor Materials and Devices, X-rays and Crystalline Materials, Electro-Optics, and Laser Physics.

The Physics program places an emphasis on laboratory courses with a hands-on approach. The students have the opportunity to take a variety of courses in disciplines such as math and chemistry allowing them to tailor their education. The Physics curriculum is flexible enough that one can double major in computer science, mathematics, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. National interest in our program has been generated by our basic physics courses that use new methodologies of teaching such as studio format lectures.

We have a wide range of research programs accessible to undergraduates including areas such as: Astronomy, Solid State Devices, Electro-optics, Non-linear Optics, X-ray absorption, Semiconductor Materials and Devices, Magnetics, Chaos, Lasers, Fiber Optics, Holography, Microsensors. In addition, we are very successful in placing our students in summer internship positions with various research facilities such as NASA, Argonne National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and CSPAAR.

PHYSICS

SUMMARY OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PHYSICS MAJORS

All the courses listed above by the number.

The program must be approved by the advisor.

Twelve credits of physics courses, besides those listed by number. At least two of these credits must be directed research (PH290 or PH490) with at least one credit of PH490.

Twenty credits of technical electives of which at least eight must be in courses other than physics courses (cannot include ECE340).

Cross reference for the following courses:ECE340 and ECE341 for PH316 and PH317ES202 and ES204 for PH235

Sixteen credits of free electives (cannot include ECE340).

Thirty-six credits of humanities or social sciences courses. The distribution of these courses must meet the requirements of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.

+Students wanting to pursue the Senior Thesis option must find a faculty advisor (from the Physics and Optical Engineering Faculty) by the Fall Term of their Senior Year. At that time, the thesis topic should be decided and the research plan developed. Students in the thesis option should enroll in Senior Thesis courses for each of the three terms of their Senior Year for a total number of 8 credit hours over the three quarter sequence. Students working on a Senior Thesis will present their thesis near the end of the Spring Term of their Senior Year.

†Twenty credits of technical electives are required for a physics major, of which at least eight must be in courses other than physics courses (cannot include ECE340).

††A physics major may take sixteen credit hours of free electives, which may include any of the electives mentioned above or any other course offered at RHIT.

†††Miscellaneous Courses

Course

Course Title

Hours

CLSK 100 EM 104 OE 450

Total

College and Life SkillsGraph Comm.Laser System and ApplicationsComputing Elective

12429

The course requirements and advisors for Minors in Physics, Astronomy, Solid State Physics/Materials Science, and Optical Engineering are listed below. Successful completion of an minor is indicated on the student’s grade transcript. A student interested in pursuing an minor should consult with the appropriate advisor.

Minor in PhysicsEligibility: Students in any major degree program except for Physics and Engineering Physics

† A maximum of 4 credit hours total from PH270/470, PH290/490, and PH460 may be counted towards the area minor.

*Students majoring in Optical Engineering may not count PH292 for the minor requirements. Such students may substitute here any PH course numbered 300 or greater which is not a named requirement for the OE major.

**ECE340 may be substituted here for students who take it as part of their major degree requirements.

A Minor Completion Form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office in order for the Area Minor to be posted on your official transcript. The forms are available in the Physics and Optical Engineering Departmental Office, CL106.

Minor in AstronomyEligibility: Students in any major degree program

Advisors: Drs. Ditteon, Duree, Kirkpatrick, McInerney and Syed

Required Courses

Course

Course Title

Hours

PH 231

Observational Astronomy

2

PH 241

Physics of Stars

4

PH 250

Planets and Galaxies

4

PH 490

Directed Study

2

It is recommended, but not required, that the required courses be taken in the order listed above.

Plus eight hours of:

PH 270

Special Topics in Physics

2

PH 310

Introduction to Special Relativity

2

PH 322

Celestial Mechanics

4

PH 410

General Relativity

4

PH 460

Directed Study

1

PH 470

Special Topics in Physics

2

PH 290/490

Directed Research

1

The optional courses must be on a topic approved by one of the astronomy advisors.

Normally, only one credit of directed research or directed study is taken each quarter. Directed study and directed research may be repeated (4 hours maximum) and must be on a topic approved by one of the astronomy advisors.

In order to have the area minor posted to your transcript you must submit an area minor completion form to the registrar. Forms are available in the Physics and Optical Engineering office.

Minor in Solid State Physics/Materials ScienceEligibility: Students in any degree program, except students who are working for the Semiconductor Materials and Devices Certificate.

A Minor Completion Form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office in order for the Area Minor to be posted on your official transcript. The forms are available in the Physics and Optical Engineering Departmental Office, CL106.

Minor in Optical EngineeringEligibility: Students in any degree program, except Optical Engineering.

A Area Minor Completion Form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office in order for the Area Minor to be posted on your official transcript. The forms are available in the Physics and Optical Engineering Departmental Office, CL106.

Minor in ECEEligibility: Only students in Physics and Optical Engineering

To see the complete list of optional courses available for this minor, please see the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Minor Listing. Taking courses other than the ones listed here may require the student to take additional courses to fulfill the prerequisites for the other courses.

A Minor Completion Form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office in order for the Area Minor to be posted on your official transcript. The forms are available in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Departmental Office.

Minor in Medical Physics and NanomedicineEligibility: Students in any major degree program

Plus 8 hours from the following list (not limited and open for student’s choice/suggestion of courses followed by program adviser’s approval):

Course Number

Course Name

Credits

BIO 120

Comparative Anatomy & Physiology

4

BE 201

Biomedical Instrumentation and Measurements

4

BIO 205

Cellular Physiology

4

BIO 451

Cancer Biology

2

BE 541

Medical Imaging Systems

4

PH 265

Fundamentals of Nuclear Physics and Radiation

4

EP 280

Introduction to Nano-engineering

4

PH 302

Biophysics

4

EP 380

Nanotechnology, Entrepreneurship and Ethics

4

PH 470

Introduction to Physics of Medical Imaging

2

BE 435/OE 435

Biomedical Optics

4

MA 482

Bioengineering Statistics

4

ECE 480/OE 437

Introduction to Image Processing

4

CHEM 330

Biochemistry I

4

CHEM 331

Biochemistry II

4

CHEM 532

Biochemical Pharmacology

4

Also see Certificate Program in Semiconductor Materials and Devices

Plan of Study

Freshman
OpenClose

Fall

Course

Credit

MA 111 Calculus I

5

PH 111 Physics I

4

RHIT 100 Foundations for Rose-Hulman Success

1

RH 131 Rhetoric & Comp or HSS Elective

4

EM 104 Graphical Communications

2

Total Credits: 16

Winter

Course

Credit

PH 112 Physics II

4

MA 112 Calculus II

5

CHEM 111 General Chemistry I

4

Computing Elective*

2 or 4

Total Credits:
15, or 17

Spring

Course

Credit

PH 113 Physics III

4

MA 113 Calculus III

5

CHEM 113 General Chemistry II

4

HSS Elective or RH131 Rhetoric & Composition

4

Total Credits: 17

Sophomore
OpenClose

Fall

Course

Credit

Free Elective†

4

PH 235 Many Particle Physics

4

MA 212 Matrix Algebra & Systems of Differential Equations

4

PH 292 Physical Optics

4

Total Credits: 16

Winter

Course

Credit

PH 255 Fund. of Modern Physics

4

HSS Elective

4

Technical Elective

4

MA 211 Differential Equations

4

Total Credits: 16

Spring

Course

Credit

PH 314 Theoretical Mechanics I

4

HSS Elective

4

MA 371 Linear Algebra I or MA 373 Applied Linear Algebra for Engr

4

Math Elective†

4

Total Credits: 16

Junior
OpenClose

Fall

Course

Credit

HSS Elective

4

PH 316 Electric & Magnetic Fields

4

Technical Elective†

4

PH 405 Semiconductor Materials & Applications

4

Total Credits: 16

Winter

Course

Credit

PH 317 Electromagnetism

4

PH 401 Intro Quantum Mechanics

4

HSS Elective

4

Physics Elective†

4

Total Credits: 16

Spring

Course

Credit

PH 325 Advanced Physics Lab I

4

HSS Elective

4

OE 450 Laser Sys & App or Physics Elective†

4

PH 327 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics

4

Total Credits: 16

Senior
OpenClose

Fall

Course

Credit

Math Elective†

4

Technical Elective†

4

HSS Elective

4

Free Elective

4

Total Credits: 16

Winter

Course

Credit

PH 425 Advanced Physics Lab II

4

HSS Elective

4

Technical Elective†

4

Free Elective†

4

Total Credits: 16

Spring

Course

Credit

Technical Elective†

4

OE 450 Laser Sys & App or Physics Elective

4

Free Elective

4

Physics Elective†

4

Total Credits: 16

Total credits required: 192

NOTES:

* Computing elective: 2 or 4 credit course on computing from the following course: BIO 100, CHE 110, CSSE 120, and ME 123. CSSE 120 is required for physics majors who are planning to double major with CSSE, CPE, EE, MA, and ME

†Free, Math and technical electives are only suggestions and can change subject to offering. Electives must be approved by PHOE advisor.